A Nigerian national, Abiola Kayode, has been extradited to the United States over his alleged role in a $6 million cyber fraud scheme. The 37-year-old, who had been on the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List, was transferred from Ghana to Nebraska, marking a significant step in efforts to combat global cybercrime.
The indictment alleges Kayode masterminded a business email compromise (BEC) operation between January 2015 and September 2016, targeting businesses in Nebraska and beyond. These schemes tricked employees into wiring funds to fraudulent accounts, with over $6 million stolen during the period.
Authorities claim Kayode used accounts controlled by victims of internet romance scams to funnel the illicit funds. These accounts helped obscure the money trail, making recovery more challenging.
Kayode was arrested by Ghanaian authorities in April 2023 following a formal request by the U.S. government. On December 11, 2024, he appeared before Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson in Nebraska, who ordered his detention pending trial.
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Several of Kayode’s alleged co-conspirators have faced justice. In 2019, Adewale Aniyeloye and Pelumi Fawehinmi received sentences of 96 months and 72 months, respectively, and were ordered to repay a combined $2.58 million. Another conspirator, Onome Ijomone, was sentenced to 60 months in 2020, while Alex Ogunshakin, extradited from Nigeria, received a 45-month sentence in 2024.
Speaking on the extradition, FBI Special Agent Eugene Kowel emphasized the ongoing pursuit of cybercriminals. “Abiola Kayode is the second of six co-conspirators we’ve identified. Our message to the others: we are coming for you,” Kowel said.
The FBI credited Ghana’s Attorney General’s Office, Police Service, INTERPOL, and Immigration Service for their collaboration. “This extradition underscores the importance of global partnerships in dismantling cyber-criminal groups,” Kowel added.
Kayode’s trial marks another chapter in the fight against BEC schemes, which the FBI estimates cost U.S. businesses over $2.7 billion in 2022.
